Hoisting apparatus



H. S. GARDNER.

HOISTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED um 23. I918.

1,365,979. Patented Jan. 18,1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVEN TOR l TTORNEYS H. S. GARDNER.

HOISTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION mu) MAB 23.1918.

1,365,979, Patented Jan. 18, 1921.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3 WITNESSES INVENTOR 3 afiwmw B) @affilmm m m H. S. GARDNER.

HOISTING APPARATUS. APPLICAHON FILED MM. 23. I918.

4 SHEETS SHEET 4 A TTO/M/EYS Patented J an. 18, 1921.

UNITED STAT l?: S

HOW'ARD S. GARDNER, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

HOISTING APPARATUS.

Application filed .Tl'Earch 23, 1.918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I Howano S. GARDNER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of East Orange, county of Essex, Potato of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Hoisting Apparatus, oi which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for hoisting and dischargingggmaterials and has for its object to provide an improved and simplified construction in which the material is eiiiciently confined or earned during hoisting and in which it is e'iiiciently discharged when desired. Other more speclfic objects oi my improvement will appear from the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an example of my invention, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation showing my improved apparatus in use in conneet1on with building construction. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail side elevation of the bucket florming part of my invention and illustrating parts of the guideway; Fig. 2 is a detail view showing one of a pair of bucket siuiiports; Fig. 3 is a front view oi the bucket; Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation thereof on the line 4- l of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an inverted plan view; Fig. 5 is a detail section on the line 5-5 of 5; Figs. 6 and 7 are views corresponding respectively to Figs. it, i: and 5 showing another form of my invention; 8 is a partial rear view thereof partly in section; Fig. 9 is a detail. view of a pivot connection formlng pert of my invention; Fig. 10 is a detail r w of a device for facilitating the filling or loading of the bucket; Fig. 11 is a detail elevation illustrating extensible links which may be included in the apparatus; l ig. l2 lo a longitudinal sectiono'f one of said links; Fig. 13 is a detail side elevation showing one form of bucket supporting means Forming part of my improvement and Fig. 14 is a detail front elevation thereo'l partly in section.

lily improved construction is particularly adapted for handling concrete and other coalescent material in building operations and construction work, and I. have accordingly chosen an installation of this type as unexample of my invention for the purposes of illustration and description.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 18, 1921.

Serial No. team.

As shown in the drawings, the apparatus comprises a pair oi? parallel guideways 15 which are arranged in the building or other structure in any suitable manner; these guideways may be of any well known type adapted either to be built up in sections to keep pace with the construction work or to be installed in a structure after the latter has reached its intended height. When the apparatusis used in construction work the guideways 15 preferably extend from a point below the lowermost part of the structure under construction, as, for instance, a pit 16 formed in the cellar of a building, to the uppermost point at which material is to be delivered. The guideways 15 serve as guides for a bucket orreceptacle 1? which is provided with rail-shoes 18 or their equivalents, arranged to cooperate with said guideways to maintain said bucket in its intended vertical or other path. The bucket 17 may be raised and lowered or otherwise manipulated in any suitable manner, as by means of a cable or the like 17 having its one end connected, for instance, at 19 with a frame 20 in which the bucket 17 is mounted and passing over a suitable pulley 21 to the drum of an engine or motor which provides the power whereby said bucket is operated. The bucket 17 itself may be of any suitable dimensions and form and generally is provided with a bottom 22 inclining downwardly from the rear portion toward an exit opening 23 formed in the front wall or portion o said bucket as shown in a. The exit opening is normally closed by means of a gate, door or the like 24, carr by and depending, tor instance, from hinges 25 journaled in suitable bearings 26 located at the proper points uponthe bucket 17. In the preferred form the gate or door is preferably provided with side wings 9.7 which in the closed position extend exteriorly along the side walls of the bucket l? and in the open position of the gate bridge the spaces between it and the bucket and prevent spreading of the material during discharge.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4; the gate 24 may be maintained in its closed position by means of a pair of bolts 28 having books 29 at their free ends and slidably mounted in bearings 30 secured to the bottom 22. The bolts 28 are spaced from each other in the direction of the width of the bucket 17, and are pivotally connected at 31 with cranks 32 mounted upon a shaft 33, which in turn is journaled in bearings 34 also fastened to the bottom 22. A crank 35 is carried by the shaft 33 at an intermediate point and is operatively connected, by means of a link or the like 36 with an arm 37 adjustably clamped upon a shaft 38, the latter passing through a hollow shaft referred to farther on as 57, said shaft 38 extending at one end beyond the bucket 17 and being journaled in bearings 39 also secured to the bottom 22. At its projecting end the shaft 38 carries an operating lever 40 which extends upwardly along and at a distance from a side wall of the bucket and is preferably provided at its free end with a grip or handle 41, said lever 40, in the illustrated example, being movable in the arc of a circle between the members of a segment 42 secured upon said bucket as shown in Fig. 2. In order that the lever 40 may be locked in position, in the predetermined adjustments, it may be provided with a spring latch 43 adapted to snap into notches 44 and 45 formed in one or both members of the segment 42. lVhen it is desired to release the lever 40 the latch 43 may be moved to an inoperative position, against the tension of its spring by means of a finger piece 46 pivotally connected at 47 with the lever 40 and at 48 with the latch 43.

With this arrangement the books 29 of the bolts 28 project over the lower edge of the gate 24 when the latter is in its closed position and thus lock said gate or door in this position; the bolts 28 are held against unintentional movement, owing to the fact that in the described position of the parts the lever 40 inclines forwardly and the latch 43 is located in the notch 44 of the segment 42. The hooks 29 and bolts 28 may at all times be adjusted to properly lock the gate 24 in its closed position b T rotatably adjusting the arm 37 on the shaft 38, the arm as before stated being adjustably clamped thereon. When it is desired to release the gate the latch 43 is first removed from the notch 44 through the medium of the finger piece 46 after which the lever 40 is swung to the rear until the latch snaps into the notch 45. This causes the shaft 38 to be rocked and thereby causes the arm 37 to exert a pushing force upon the link or the like 36 which in turn actuates the crank 35 and rocks the shaft 33. As the latter shaft is thus actuated it will operate the cranks 32, which in turn slidably move the bolt-s 28 in their bearings, in a direction to move the hooks 29 away from the lower edge of the gate 24. The latter is thus released and under the force of the load or under the force of gravity or both swings to an open position. In the preferred form, a chain or chains 24 are included for the purpose of limiting the outward swinging movement of the gate. These chains have one end secured to the gate and their other end fastened to suitable U-bolts or the like carried by the bucket, one of said connections being preferably detachable to permit an unrestricted opening of the gate if this should be desired. 'lo again lock the gate 24 after it has been swung to its closed position by gravity or otherwise, the latch 43 is released from the notch 44 and the lever 40 is swung to the front, until the latch 43 again snap into the notch 44. This operation of the lever ":l-l brings about a reverse actuation of the pa rl's and again brings the hooks 29 of the bolts 28 into operative engagement with the lower edge of the gate 24 which is thereby again firmly secured in its locked position.

lVith the arrangement so far described, the hooks 29 of the locking bolts 28 project into the path of the material or load as it is discharged from the bucket 17. in some cases, owing to the characteristics of the material being handled, it is desirable to avoid obstructions in the path of the material being discharged in order, for instance, to prevent injury to said material. For insta cc, the apparatus might be used. for hoisting and discharging material containcd in bags which might become torn during discharge by contact with said hooks.

In Figs. 6, 7 and S I have illustraiel an example of my improvement in which no part of the gate locking mechanism projects into the path of the discharging material. In this form, bearings 34, corresponding to the bearings 34, are located near the lower edge of the bottom 22 and rotatably support a shaft 33 corresponding to the shaft 33-). it an intermediate point this shaft carries a crank 35, corresponding to the crank 37. and which is likewise operatively connected with the arm I)? of the shaft 33 by means of a link 36 correspomling to the link 36. .d' or near its opposite ends the shaft 33 carries arms 28 which may be said to correspond in function at least, to the bolts 2.; and which are provided at or near their free ends with studs or hooks 29 which may be said to correspond to the hooks 29. in this form the side wings 27 of the gate 2!; are continued downwardly in the form of depending lugs 27 as hown in Figs. (3 and 7.

Vith the arrangement now being described and with the gate locked in its closed position, the arms 28 project rearwardly from the shaft 33 and the studs or hooks 29 are in front of and in engagement with the lugs 27 of the side wings 27, it being understood that in thi position of the parts the lever 40 inclines forwardly and is locked in this position by the latch 43 which is located in the notch 44. The studs 29 in cooperation With the lugs 27 thus firmly and l ll llE

mea re securely 1 hold .the gate *in :its elosed position.

latch 43 is withdrawn fromcthei notch-.44

and the lever' 4:0 is swung to therear until said latch' snaps into the notch45. llhis actuation of the lever '40 rocks the shaft 88 and through the medium ot' the arm 37 ex erts a pushingforceiupon thelink 36* which is communicated to the crank and causes a rockingof the shait3 3 whereby the. arms 28" are: swung downwardly and the studs or hooks 29* are throwiront of engagement 1 with andtbelow thelugs 27 ThegateQi in this manneris-released HHCl IERHOW fIGG to swing to an openpositiontas willbe readily apparent. To-agam lock the door it 1.fi1-St returned to its closed position after which thelatch 43 is withdrawn from thcnot cheo and theleverAO :is swung toward the front until the latchzagain snaps into the nbtch 44;. This operation: or the lever brings about i a reverse: actuation i of the partsand again moves the studs i or hooks: 29*11n front oh and in engagement with the lugs-27 -whereby the gate 1s. again firmly docked against movement. The proper operation between the studs r 29 and the lugs QT Imay, in this case,:always beinaintained by rotatably adjusting the arm 37 on the shaft as hereinbefore" described.

It will be seen with the arrangement shown in'Figs. 6, i and 8 that all parts of the gate locking. and releasing :mechanism are below and to therear of the exitopening 23 of the bucket 17 that no part of said mechanism at any time: projects into the path of"theumaterial:during discharge thereof. In this form the actual lockii'ig members, bybeing protected from contact with the material: being discharged, are always maintained ina condition of maximum efficiency. In other words, it is impossible for any material tocollect upon said looking members to render the locking :mechanism inoperative or at ileast ineffective, whereby; the necessity 'for continual supervision in order to maintain the .locking mechanism in an efficient condition is avoided.

My improvement further includes an improved chute whereby the spaoebetween the discharge end of the bucketand the receiving pointer element for the material is bridged.

interfere in. anyway with the vertical: movements of saidbucket. 'l hechute is capable ofbeing swung, pendulum like on the pivots 52,=to and tromthis inoperative position and *inpractice,whenits use is required, is swungforwardly relatively to said bucket tor a position iilradvance 0t and in operative relhtion to the exit opening 23. In the illustrated example the mechanism for manipulating the chute. and for locking itin either itsopcrative or its inoperative position comprises a pairoflinks 53 which are pivotally connected atom with the bottom 49or with brackets carried thereby at points separated fromeach other as shown in Fig. 5. links 53 conver e from thepivotal connections 5% towarcf their opposite ends which are pivotally connected at. 55 with an arm 56 adjustably"clamped upon and depending tlironr a hollow shaft 57. The latter is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 38. and in a bearing 58 and extends beyond the bucket 17 at one side atits projecting end the shaft 57 carries an operating lever -59, provided with a l1andle59,-a1'id which also extends upwardly along aside \vallof said bucket and :is movable between the two members of a segment"GOsecured upon saidbucket. The lever 59 also carries spring latch 61 which cooperates with notches 62 and 63 formed in one orbotlrunembers of the segment 60, to lock the lever-59 in its adjusted positions; this latch 61 may also be operated by means o'l a finger piece 64 pivotally connected at 65 with the lever 59 and at 66 with thelatch.

In its normal position the chuteis located beneath the bucket, as before stated, the lever 59being inclined forwardly and being locked in thisposition by thclatch 61 which is located in: the notch 62 and which thus also locks the chute :against any unintentional swinging movement relatively to the bucket. Vhen it is desired to swing the chutewto its operativeposition the latch (31. is first withdrawn from the notch 62 through thewmedium of the finger piece-6e,after which the lever*59 is swung toward the rear until said latclr drops into the notch 68. The described movement otsaid lever 59 rocks the ihollow shaft57 about its axis and swings the arm 1 56 forward whereby a push 'mg force :is exerted upon the links 53, which force is communicated to the chute and swings it forwardly upon its pivots 52 in.

advance of the exit opening 93; the chute i is locked in this position through the medium of the latch Grand notch 63. To return the chute to its inoperative position the latch 61 is first withdrawn from the notch63 and thelever 59 swung back toward the front whereby theparts are actuated in an reversedirection and said chute isswung back beneath the bucket. By connecting the links53 withthe chute at its bottomand by locating and correlating the cooperating I The released, as hereinbefore described.

parts in approximately the relation shown in the illustrated example, the chute is firmly braced when in its operative position against shocks produced by the material during discharge thereof; the chute manipulating mechanism with this arrangement also neutralizes such shocks and thus reduces the danger of injury to a minimum. It will be understood that, in practice, the chute is al ways manipulated before the gate locking mechanism is actuated; that is the chute is first swung to its operative position before the locking mechanism is operated to release the, gate and similarly the chute is always returned to its inoperative position before the locking mechanism is operated to lock the gate.

The range of movement of the chute may be changed and adjusted to meet all condiditions, by rotatably adjusting the arm 56 on the shaft 57, the arm being adjustably clamped upon said shaft for this purpose.

Hereinbefore in the description I have spoken of the necessity for returning the gate 24 to its closed position before the locking mechanism is actuated to lock said gate against opening. In the preferred form of my improvement this return of the gate to its closed position may be automatically accomplished for instance, as shown in the illustrated examples. A member 67 is pivotally connected at 68 with one of the chute suspending links 51 and at 69 with an intermediate point of another member 70, the latter having its one end pivotally connected at 71 with a bracket 72 secured upon the bucket 17. In the preferred arrangement the pivots 68, 69 and 71, which usually com prise bolts, each extend through a tubular washer or sleeve 73 which is slightly longer than the thickness of one of the members which are pivotally connected and which sleeve is located in a suitable aperture in said one member between the nut whereby said bolt is secured in place and the other member of the pivotal connection as shown in Fig. 9. With this arrangement it is impossible to bind together any of the members which are pivotally connected owing to the presence of the washers 73 so that the relative movement of said members is always brou ht about with a minimum of effort. The free end portion of the member is arranged to cooperate with a pin or stud 74 located upon a side wing 27 of the gate 24.

As the chute is swung forward to its operative position as hereinbefore described, the members 67 and 70 will be pivotally actuated and straightened out and the free end portion of the member 70 will be swung away from the pin or stud 74. This leaves the gate 24 free to swing to its open position, after the locking mechanism is operated or The parts are so proportioned and located with respect to each other that the outward movement of the stud 74 in the normal opening movement of the gate does not carry said stud materially beyond the point where the are described by said stud 74 during said opening movement intersects the are described by the free end of the member 70 during the same movement. In other words, the member 70 swings in an are having the pivot 71 as a center, while the stud 7 1 swings in a relatively larger are having the pivot 25 as a center; this permits the stud 74 and member 70 to swing clear of each other and allows the gate 24 to open to an abnormal extent if this should become necessary because of the character of the material being handled. When the chute is returned to its inoperative position, the members 67 and 7 0 will be folded as it were and the free end portion of the member 70 will finally engage the stud 74; as the return movement of the chute is continued said member 70 will press rearwardly upon said stud 7 4t and will thus swing the gate 24 to its fully closed position after which the locking mechanism may be actuated as previously set forth. It will be understood that the members 67 and 70 and cooperating stud 74 may be duplicated on both sides of the bucket if this should be desired. The arrangement described insures the proper final engagement of the elements 27 and 29 in constructions in which the gate 21 swings toward its closed position by gravity but does not swing far enough in this direction to bring the elements 27 and 29 into proper cooperative relation to each other. When the elements 27 and 29 are in operative engagement with each other and the gate 24- is fully locked, the member 70 will be slightly spaced from the stud 7 4, say a quarter of an inch or so. No part of the pressure or other strains exerted by the load upon said gate flat is therefore communicated to the chute 49 which is thus protected against injury from these causes.

When the bucket is in its lowermost position ready to be loaded the bottom thereof rests upon supports 75 located at the lower ends of the guides 15 and each composed. for instance, of a number of sections joined together and having their upper surfaces inclined at angles corresponding to each other and to the angle of the bottom 22. In addition the bucket is preferably provided with a pair of shoes 76 depending from the bottom 22 and having their free ends curved as at 77. These shoes 76 are arranged to pass be hind the supports and engage the one vertical surface of each support 7 5 and thus serve to hold the bucket rigidly in position during loading thereof. In other words these shoes, in cooperation with the supports, brace the bucket firmly against any strains in a direction toward the front a of said bucket, during loading; In constructions in i which the bottom of the bucket is inclined downwardly toward the front this is important, as the tendency of the load to slide down upon said inclined bottom results in considerable strain towardthe front of the bucket. such strains are neutralized by the shoes and losupports and are not transmitted, to any appreciable extent, to the guideways, which are thus protected from distortion during loading of the bucket.

My improvement further includes an 152 auxiliary chute which is arrangedto bridge the space between the bucket 17 and a storage hopper, aconcrete mixer or any other source from whichthe material is loaded intov .saidbucket. In the illustrated ex- 20 ample, as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 10 I have shown the auxiliary chute in combination with a .storage hopper in which concrete from a concrete. mixer \is stored.

As. shown, the auxiliary chute comprises a platform: 77 havinguprightsides=78 provided at their front edges with projections 7 9 for instance, in the IOI'IHlOI short angleirons. The platform'77 is carried by members 80 secured toangle irons 81 pivoted at 82 upon the support 83. for the storage hopper 84 which is provided-with a sliding door 85-a11d receives its contents for instance, from a concrete mixer86. The angle irons 81 extendin one direction into the path ofthe bucket 17 as at 81 and in the other direction beyond the members 80 and carry counter balance weights 87. The parts: are so arranged and proportioned with respect to each other that the auxiliary chute will bridge the space between the hopper 84 and the bucket 17 when the latter is in position for loadinga In practice, asthe bucket17 descends it will finally engage the projecting endsof inglaterally on said platform; After the bucket 17 has received the desired quantity of material the door 85 is: closed and the bucket israised to. the point at which delivery ofisaidvmaterialaisto take place. As soon a as the bucket F17 begins "to rise the weights 87 will swing the beams 81, membersw80, platform 77 and sides 78 to an inopenativeposition in which :nowpart of the auxiliary wchuteanterferes with the vertical movement of said; bucket. The movement of the platform .77 and its connected parts .to G5 the inoperative position is arrested as soon With my improved arrangement a the beams81 at 81 and thus swing the plat asthe projections 79' contact with the hopper 84 or some portion of its support. It will be understoodthat the parts are arranged so that this result will be obtained; in this manner thetilting of auxiliary chute to a position in which it couldbe entirelyout of cooperative relation with the bucket is prevented.

In operation the bucket, afterrbeing loaded, is reaised throughthe medium of suitable machinery to .the level at which the material is to be delivered. VVhen this level has been reached the level 59 is swung to ward the rear, thus swinging the chute from its inoperative position to an operative position as hereinbefore described- After this has been done thelever 40 is actuated to release the gate 24 also 'intheimanner pre viously set forth and permit it toswing to an open position. After the material has 85 been dischargedthe chute is first returned to its inoperative position after which I the: gate-locking mechanism. .is actuated to again lock thegate in its closed positionu The bucket is then lowered and refilled after which the operationsabove described are repeated;

Instead of clamping the 1arms-37 and 56: upon the respective shafts .38 and 57 to permit the gate locking devicesuand the range of movement of the chutetobe adjusted as hereinbefore described, said arms 3.7 and 56- may be keyed or otherwise fixed upon said shafts. In this casethe linksBG, 36 and 53. may be made adjustable as to length for the same purposes and shown in Figs. 11 and 12 may comprise sections 36 and 36 and 53 and 53 respectively, adjustably connected together by means of. bolts a and 1 slots 6 for instance.asillustrated.

Instead of constructing the shoes 7 6 and supports 75 as shown for instancein Fig. 2, these elements may be constructed as illustrated in Figsu13 and 14. In thisszcase the shoes 76 are straight horizontal members carried by the bucketl'? and securedin position in any suitable manner as by being riveted to the lowerendsiofrchannel irons 20 located :at the opposite sides of the bucket l7 and projecting below-the sameysuitable plates and angle irons maybe provided to increase the rigidity of the construction to a maximumextent. When the bucket is in its lowest position 'these shoes '76 rest upon the :upper horizontal surfacesvof supports 75 corresponding in function. and location to thesupports75.

When constructedtasin Fig. 21th-eshoes 76, when in engagement with the supports.

7 5 are sometimes forced into suchclose 0011- tact therewith under the pressureexerted by the load in the :bucket asto interpose a resistance to the raising of the latter, this being due to the inclinations of the bottom ofthe bucketand the upper surfacesof the supports 75. With the form of construction shown in Figs. 13 and 14 even the slight disadvantage recited above is overcome.

y invention is extremely simple in construction and efiicient in operation and re quires no skilled attention, either in operation or in installation. The apparatus may be used for handling any kind of material either loose or in bags or other containers. In my improved apparatus the parts are all constructed and combinedin such a manner that the effects of all strains, stresses and shocks are neutralized, thus prolonging the life of the apparatus and rendering it proof against rough and unusual usage.

Various changes in the specific forms shown and described may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim 1. In a hoisting apparatus, a bucket having an exit opening, a movable door for said opening, a chute normally located beneath said bucket, means pivotally connected with said bucket for freely suspending the chute therefrom, and means connected directly with said chute whereby it is swung on its pivotal connections laterally of said bucket to an operative position in advance of said exit opening and back again.

2. In a hoisting apparatus, a bucket having an exit opening, a movable door for said opening, a chute normally located beneath said bucket, means pivotally connected with said bucket for freely suspending the chute therefrom, and means connected directly with said chute at the rear edge of its bottom whereby said chute is swung on its pivotal connections laterally of said bucket to an operative position in advance of said exit opening and back again.

3. In a hoisting apparatus, a bucket having an" exit opening, a movable door for said opening, a chute normally located beneath said bucket, means pivotally connected with said bucket for freely suspending the chute therefrom, a link pivotally connected directly'to said chute and a lever pivotally mounted on said bucket and pivotally connected with said link whereby said chute is swung on its pivotal connections laterally of said bucket to an operative position in advance'of said exit opening and back again.

4. In a hoisting apparatus, a bucket having an exit opening, a movable door for said opening, means for locking said door in its closed position and for releasing same, a chute: movably mounted on said bucket, means for moving said chute to and from an operative position and means other than the chute itself whereby said door is closed as said chute is moved to its inoperative position.

5. In a hoisting apparatus, a bucket having an exit opening, a movable door for said opening, a chute normally located beneath said bucket, means pivotally connected with said bucket for freely suspending the chute therefrom, means for swinging said chute to and from an operative position, means operatively connected with said chute suspending means whereby said door is closed as said chute is swung to its inoperative position and means for locking said door in itsclosed position and for releasing same.

6. In a hoisting apparatus, :1 bucket having an exit opening, a swinging door for said opening and having side wings, a chute pivotally suspended on said bucket, means for swinging said chute to and from an op erative position, a projection on one of the wings of said door, a link pivotally connected with the bucket and arranged to engage said projection, a second link pivotally connected with one of said bucket carrying members and with said first link whereby the latter is engaged with said projection to close said door as the bucket is swung to an inoperative position and means for locking said door in its closed position and for releasing same.

7. In a hoisting apparatus, a bucket having an exit opening, a pivotally suspended door for said opening having rearwardly extending side wings, a lug on one of said wings, a shaft journaled on the bottom of said bucket rearwardly of said exit opening, a locking member operatively connected with said shaft and arranged to engage said lug rearwardly of said exit opening for locking said door in its closed position, a link operatively connected with said shaft and :1 lever pivotally mounted upon said bucket and pivotally connected with said link whereby said locking member is moved to and from an operative position.

8. In a hoisting apparatus, a bucket having an exit opening, a pivotally suspended door for said opening having rearwurdly extending side members, lugs depending from said side members, a shaft journaled on the bottom of said bucket rearwardly of said exit opening, a pair of locking members operatively connected with said shaft and arranged to engage said lugs rearwardly of said exit opening to lock the door in its closed position, a crank carried by said shaft, a second shaft journaled on the bottom of said bucket, an arm carried by said i second shaft, a link operatively connected with said crank and with said arm and a lever carried by said second shaft whereby said locking members are moved to and from an operative position.

9. In a hoisting apparatus, a bucket having an exit opening, a pivotally suspended door for said opening provided with side wings, a projection on one of said side wings, a shaft journaled on the bottom of said bucket and rearwardly of the exit opening, a member carried by said shaft, a stud on said member arranged to engage said wing projection rearwardly of said eXit opening to lock the door in its closed position and means for actuating said shaft to move said member and stud to and from an operative position.

10. In a hoisting apparatus, a bucket having an exit opening, a pivotally suspended door for said opening provided with side wings, projections depending from said side wings, a shaft journaled on the bottom of said bucket and rearwardly of said exit opening, a pair of members carried by said shaft, a stud on each member arranged to engage said wing projections rearwardly of said exit opening to lock said door in its closed position, a crank carried by said shaft, a second shaft journaled on the bottom of said bucket, an arm carried by said second shaft, a link connected with said arm and with said crank and a lever carried by said second shaft whereby said members and studs are moved to and from an operative position.

11. In a hoisting apparatus, a pair of upright guideways, a bucket arranged to travel lengthwise thereof, a stationary, rigid support at the lower end of each guideway and having a horizontal upper surface and shoes carried by said bucket and having horizontal members arranged to rest upon the horizontal surfaces of said supports where by said bucket is supported in its lowermost position during loading thereof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HOWARD S. GARDNER. 

